Here are some words and phrases you can hear on languagecaster’s Full Podcast’s Good, Bad and Ugly section - a review of the footballing news. For more English practice check out our online quizzes and crosswords, worksheets and English for football phrases as well as the Learners’ Podcast.

• to thrive -to do well, to grow, to be successful

Michael Owen seems to be thriving under Kevin Keegan.

• to heat up - to become more exciting, to become more intense

It was good for Argentinian football fans as the league race heated up with Estudiantes going level on points with River Plate.

• to squeeze through - to qualify narrowly, to just get to the next stage

Boca qualified to the last 16 of the Copa Libertadores, squeezing through on goal difference over Colo Colo.

• the business end of - the time when results are decided, when the most important events happen

It is the business end of the season when the cups and trophies are being handed out.

• to tout - to strongly predict or advertise, to tip

That could be the first trophy of three that Bayern are touted to win this year.

• the drop zone - the relegation places, the bottom two or three places of the league table

Valencia are only two points above the drop zone.

• to boss the game - to dominate, to be in control

Liverpool were bossing the game, doing very well, had a few chances.

• in the bag - safe, decided

It was looking pretty much in the bag on the 94th minute.

• to stoop - to bend down low, bend at the waist

John Arne Riise stooped down and equalised for Chelsea - a stunning own goal.

• to get on with (something) - to continue without complaining, to persevere

Benitez should just get on with it. there was no need to complain. He could have had the moral high ground.

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